reading_do_not_disturb 's review for:

Back in the Saddle by Maggie Eckersley

3.0

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I expected to quite enjoy the book, from the blurb and the tropes which were right up my alley, but I never managed to completely get into Caroline and Hunter’s story. The main issue for me was that most of the writing felt too clinical, rather than emotional. Caroline is a doctor so you could justify it to some extend, but it didn’t read well - especially in the spice scenes. 

There were quite a few good things, notably the family dynamics and grief topics which I thought were really well done, and some of the emotional connection between Hunter and Caroline as well, but almost everything else was described that a form of coldness that isn’t what I want in a romance book. 

I considered DNFing several times… the last 25% were a bit better but that came too last to make up for the rest of the book. 

*I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest opinion*